Henry Altemus Company

The following are questions submitted via email by our visitors.

If you have a question about Altemus books that you'd like answered please click on the Questions link at the bottom left of this page.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  I was looking around the homepage but someone had done such a good job, I just couldn't find out information about the book I have. I bought my favorite play "Macbeth" (Half priced books) and when I got home a realized there is no information about it. As I learned it should be published around 1890's but that's all I know. It is different than others... the picture before the title page is different and the letters on the title page are black and red...
Title says:

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
with The Historie of Macbeth
from Ralph Holinshed's chronicles of Scotland, 1577
Philadelphia Henry Altemus

There are no dates on the book. Has 192 pages. Thread binding.

I would be extremely happy if someone could help me out. And maybe let me know did I gain more than a great book.

A:  The Shakespeare's Plays Series included 33 books. It was published between 1899 and 1933. In 1899 the books listed Henry Altemus on the title page. Thereafter Henry Altemus Company was noted as the publisher. Thus, your book is an 1899 version. No real value but a nice book nonetheless.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  I acquired a collection of Shakespeare plays that seam to be published by your company. These are small, almost pocket size books in very good condition and number 25 to the collection. I am trying to find as much information as I can to determine there value. Please help.

Q:  I recently came across 36 hardbound books with Philadelphia Henry Altemus company inside each one. There is no copyright or edition printed in any of the books. Each book is a play by William Shakespeare, starting with Coriolanus, King Richard, Romeo and Juliet, many King Henry plays plus more. Each start with an Introduction. Then the plays begin, stating the scenes and acts all through each one.
I'm curious to know about these books. They are very old. They are hard-bound with a dark reddish/burgundy'ish cover. When were they printed? Are there more of them?

Q:  I have an edition of "The First Part of King Henry IV" by William Shakespeare printed by your company but has no date of when printed. We would like to know the date printed.

A:  Your books are part of a 39 volume Shakespeare Series (#164) that originally came with dust jackets in a box. They were published between 1899 and 1926. Nothing however distinguishes the earlier from the later books except that the 1899 editions say Henry Altemus at the bottom of the title page rather than Henry Altemus Company as is on all of the post-1900 books. Assuming you do not possess the original box, they are quite common and have only nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  Hi I was wondering about this book the Three Musketeers and other stories someone wrote 1921 on inside cover any idea of age?

A:  Your book is part of the Classics Series/ Slip in the Pocket Series. Without the dust jacket it is impossible to exactly date this book. 1909-1915 would be approximate dates.
See: Slip in the Pocket Series

Slip in the Pocket Classics

Q:  This is a book that is in my wife's family, The Tent on the Beach. There is no copyright or any date for that matter. Can you help?

A:  Your book is part of the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series. It was published in the 1909-1915 time range.

Originally it was published with a dust jacket. An example is shown here.

Because this title is a reprint with little collector interest, it only has nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  I have a book titled “Friendship”, written by Henry David Thoreau, published by your company. The hardcover is green with gold inlay.

When was it published and is it of any value?

Please advise and thank you in advance.

A:  Your book is part of the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series.

It was published in the 1909-1912 range. It originally came with a dust jacket.

This is not a very collectible title and since all the Altemus copies of this title are reprints, your book only has nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  I'm having a hard time locating information on this book (Othello). I was thinking about putting it on ebay, but I'm not sure what to price it since I can't find any details on it. Any help you can give would be welcomed. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of either the Slip-in-the-Pocket Classics Series or its direct 1908 predecessor- Classics Series. For the Classics Series see ../series/series69.htm See ../series/series166.htm for the Slip in the Pocket Series.

This book originally came with a dust jacket. Shown is a representative jacket. When this book sells, it is generally only for a few dollars.

Slip in the Pocket Classics

Q:  Can you tell me anything about this book? I couldn't find it on the website.

A:  The Classics Series (../series/series69.htm) and later the Slip in the Pocket Series (../series/series166.htm) were first published in 1907. Your book is from the first of the five different formats and was published in the 1907-1909 era. It originally came with a dust jacket. To date this book exactly you need to be able to see the advertisements on the back of the dust jacket.

Regardless, it is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Standard 12 mo. Series

Q:  Hello, I was reviewing your website http://www.henryaltemus.com and decided to contact you regarding the series 167 "Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" pictorial cover. I have a blue cloth cover with silver, red and orange colors on the front dated 1895. It also has gilt text block at the top. It is in fair shape but solid reading copy with floral end plates. This issue is more likely the "best made and most valuable" you stated. I'm a bit confused about selling this book. What would be your best guess for selling this book?

A:  In 1895 Altemus published the Carroll books for the ?rst time. Two combination books (Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass) were published in two different series. Within Series #167 Standard 12 Mo. the book was printed in two different formats. One book has crushed levant with a silver decorative pattern on a maroon cover (Other colors have been seen). The other book has a wonderful pictorial cover in silver and inks (Your book). These books are 7.5 x 5.5 and probably Altemus' best made Alice books. My opinion notwithstanding, these two books should be the most valuable of all Altemus Carroll's. They are very scarce and are the first Altemus combination books. This pictorial cover format is especially unique.

Standard 12 mos. Series

Q:  Hi, I was trying to research a book by Henry Altemus: Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Its the 167 series. It has a pictorial cover in silver and inks. Would you happen to know what this book would go for or valued at? The book is in great condition. Please let me know.
Thank you and your website has been a great help. I just though I could ask you on its value. Or if you don't know where I could get an answer for my question.

A:  Of all of the Altemus reprints of Alice in Wonderland, it is my opinion that this is the best. A beautiful decorative binding in a solid 1895 publication. This series published the combination Alice book in two formats. I am including a picture of the other format (maroon cover with a silver gilt decorative pattern).

See Standard 12 mos. Series for more information on the series.

The value is somewhat unpredictable. The individual Alice books from the Young People's Library which are as common as trees in a forest frequently are bid up to $50-100 even without dust jackets. This book is much scarcer and of a much better quality than that book. A price of $150-200 is not unreasonable.

Stories We Love Series

Q:  I found this book (Cranford) in an attic. Could you please give me any information you have? Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Stories We Love Series and was published between 1912 and 1916. The books of this series were published in red, green and brown. Originally the book was sold with a labeled box.

For more information see ../series/series171.htm.